Probiotics Interact With Lipids Metabolism and Affect Gut Health

Dietary Supplementation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis BIONCL17752 on Growth Performance, and Gut Microbiota of Broiler Chickens

The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, being triggered by the overuse or misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming sector. We evaluated Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis BIONCL17752 strain, and characterized its probiotic potential to endure hostile gastrointestinal conditions. Genome sequencing analysis revealed probiotics traits, and gene clusters involved in bacteriocins, lactococcin A, and sactipeptides production. The absence of genes for antibiotic resistance, virulence, and biogenic amine production indicates the potential of probiotic strain. The BIONCL17752 strain was explored for antibiotic-free feed supplement for growth promotor in broiler chicken. The feed supplemented with 4 × 109 CFU/kg of probiotic strain, in combination with various concentrations of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 kg/tonne in starter, grower, and finisher diets, respectively. A significant improvement of body weight 152 to 171 g/bird (p < 0.05), and a low feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.62, was achieved without using synthetic antibiotics for growth promotion. The results of biochemical, hematological, and histological examinations showed normal features, indicating that the treatment had no harmful effects on the bird's health. Reduced levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in serum are an indication of the health benefits for the treated birds. Microbial community analysis of fecal samples of poultry birds exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. Probiotic treatment resulted in reduced Firmicutes and increased Bacteroidetes (F/B ratio) in the broiler's gut which highlights the benefits of probiotic dietary supplements. Importantly, the probiotic-fed group exhibited a high abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyme) such as glycoside hydrolases (GH), glycoside transferases (GT), and carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) hydrolases which are essential for the degradation of complex sugar molecules. The probiotic potential of the BIONCL17752 strain contributes to broilers' health by positively affecting intestinal microbiota, achieving optimal growth, and lowering mortality, demonstrating the economic benefits of probiotic treatment in organic poultry farming.

The Potential Harmful Effects of Genetically Engineered Microorganisms (GEMs) on the Intestinal Microbiome and Public Health

Gut luminal dysbiosis and pathobiosis result in compositional and biodiversified alterations in the microbial and host co-metabolites. The primary mechanism of bacterial evolution is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and the acquisition of new traits can be achieved through the exchange of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Introducing genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) might break the harmonized balance in the intestinal compartment. The present objectives are: 1. To reveal the role played by the GEMs' horizontal gene transfers in changing the landscape of the enteric microbiome eubiosis 2. To expand on the potential detrimental effects of those changes on the human genome and health. A search of articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scielo from 2000 to August 2023 using appropriate MeSH entry terms was performed. The GEMs' horizontal gene exchanges might induce multiple human diseases. The new GEMs can change the long-term natural evolution of the enteric pro- or eukaryotic cell inhabitants. The worldwide regulatory authority's safety control of GEMs is not enough to protect public health. Viability, biocontainment, and many other aspects are only partially controlled and harmful consequences for public health should be avoided. It is important to remember that prevention is the most cost-effective strategy and primum non nocere should be the focus.

Physiological Response of Spotted Seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) to Different Dietary Available Phosphorus Levels and Water Temperature: Changes in Growth, Lipid Metabolism, Antioxidant Status and Intestinal Microbiota

A 10-week growth experiment was conducted to assess the physiological response of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) raised at moderate (27 °C) and high temperatures (33 °C) to different dietary available phosphorus (P) levels. Five diets with available P levels of 0.35, 0.55, 0.71, 0.82 and 0.92% were formulated, respectively. A water temperature of 33 °C significantly decreased growth performance and feed utilization, and increased oxidative stress and lipid deposition of spotted seabass compared with 27 °C. A second-order polynomial regression analysis based on weight gain (WG) showed that the available P requirement of spotted seabass raised at 27 °C and 33 °C was 0.72% and 0.78%, respectively. The addition of 0.71-0.82% P to the diet improved the growth performance, feed utilization, and antioxidant capacity of spotted seabass and alleviated the excessive lipid deposition compared with the low-P diet (0.35% P). Moreover, the addition of 0.71-0.92% P to diets increased the diversity of intestinal microbiota and the relative abundance of Lactococcus lactis and decreased the relative abundance of Plesiomonas compared with the low-P diet. Thus, dietary supplementation with 0.71-0.82% P improved the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and microbial composition of spotted seabass, and alleviated the disturbance of lipid metabolism caused by high temperature or low-P diet.

Exploring the Effects of Probiotic Treatment on Urinary and Serum Metabolic Profiles in Healthy Individuals

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. They are used to promote gut health and alleviate various disorders. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the potential effects of probiotics on human physiology. In the presented study, the effects of probiotic treatment on the metabolic profiles of human urine and serum using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomic approach were investigated. Twenty-one healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study, and they received two different dosages of probiotics for 8 weeks. During the study, urine and serum samples were collected from volunteers before and during probiotic supplementation. The results showed that probiotics had a significant impact on the urinary and serum metabolic profiles without altering their phenotypes. This study demonstrated the effects of probiotics in terms of variations of metabolite levels resulting also from the different probiotic posology. Overall, the results suggest that probiotic administration may affect both urine and serum metabolomes, although more research is needed to understand the mechanisms and clinical implications of these effects. NMR-based metabonomic analysis of biofluids is a powerful tool for monitoring host-gut microflora dynamic interaction as well as for assessing the individual response to probiotic treatment.

Unraveling the Interplay: Exploring the Links Between Gut Microbiota, Obesity, and Psychological Outcomes

This narrative review delves into the complex and intricate mechanisms of the gut-brain axis. Gut microbiota has gained immense importance in the treatment of various diseases. The therapeutic potential of gut-microbial modulation is slowly coming to light. With good preclinical evidence, some human studies shed light on the translation potential of gut-microbial modulation. The concept of gut-microbial modulation has been studied for over a few decades. The relationship between gut microbiota and various homeostatic mechanisms is fascinating. Over the years, we have started understanding the immense role of gut microbiota in various homeostatic mechanisms. There are a good number of clinical studies that have shown the therapeutic potential of gut-microbial modulation in obesity and psychological diseases, especially depression and anxiety. The gut-microbial modulation can be achieved by dietary factors or supplementation. In this review, we explore the mechanisms by which prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics alter the gut-brain axis. The review limits its discussion to the most recent clinical studies that have shown promise as therapeutic strategies.

Genome-Assisted Probiotic Characterization and Application of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 18 as a Candidate Probiotic for Laying Hen Production

Probiotics gained significant attention for their potential to improve gut health and enhance productivity in animals, including poultry. This comprehensive study focused on the genetic analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 18 (LP18) to understand its survival and colonization characteristics in the gastrointestinal tract. LP18 was supplemented in the late-stage diet of laying hens to investigate its impact on growth performance, egg quality, and lipid metabolism. The complete genome sequence of LP18 was determined, consisting of 3,275,044 base pairs with a GC content of 44.42% and two circular plasmids. Genomic analysis revealed genes associated with adaptability, adhesion, and gastrointestinal safety. LP18 supplementation significantly improved the daily laying rate (p < 0.05) during the late-production phase and showed noteworthy advancements in egg quality, including egg shape index (p < 0.05), egg albumen height (p < 0.01), Haugh unit (p < 0.01), and eggshell strength (p < 0.05), with notable improvements in eggshell ultrastructure. Additionally, LP18 supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum lipid content, including LDL (p < 0.01), FFA (p < 0.05), and Gly (p < 0.05). These findings provide valuable insights into the genomic characteristics of LP18 and the genes that support its survival and colonization in the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, this study highlights the potential of LP18 as a probiotic candidate to enhance productivity, optimize egg quality, and modulate lipid metabolism in poultry production.

The roles of gut microbiota and its metabolites in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe microvascular complication of diabetes, which increases the risk of renal failure and causes a high global disease burden. Due to the lack of sustainable treatment, DN has become the primary cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Gut microbiota and its metabolites exert critical regulatory functions in maintaining host health and are associated with many pathogenesis of aging-related chronic diseases. Currently, the theory gut-kidney axis has opened a novel angle to understand the relationship between gut microbiota and multiple kidney diseases. In recent years, accumulating evidence has revealed that the gut microbiota and their metabolites play an essential role in the pathophysiologic processes of DN through the gut-kidney axis. In this review, we summarize the current investigations of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites involvement in the progression of DN, and further discuss the potential gut microbiota-targeted therapeutic approaches for DN.

Biomaterials and Encapsulation Techniques for Probiotics: Current Status and Future Prospects in Biomedical Applications

Probiotics have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their potential advantages in diverse biomedical applications, such as acting as antimicrobial agents, aiding in tissue repair, and treating diseases. These live bacteria must exist in appropriate quantities and precise locations to exert beneficial effects. However, their viability and activity can be significantly impacted by the surrounding tissue, posing a challenge to maintain their stability in the target location for an extended duration. To counter this, researchers have formulated various strategies that enhance the activity and stability of probiotics by encapsulating them within biomaterials. This approach enables site-specific release, overcoming technical impediments encountered during the processing and application of probiotics. A range of materials can be utilized for encapsulating probiotics, and several methods can be employed for this encapsulation process. This article reviews the recent advancements in probiotics encapsulated within biomaterials, examining the materials, methods, and effects of encapsulation. It also provides an overview of the hurdles faced by currently available biomaterial-based probiotic capsules and suggests potential future research directions in this field. Despite the progress achieved to date, numerous challenges persist, such as the necessity for developing efficient, reproducible encapsulation methods that maintain the viability and activity of probiotics. Furthermore, there is a need to design more robust and targeted delivery vehicles.

Inulin ameliorates metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-fed mice by regulating gut microbiota and bile acid excretion

Background: Inulin is a natural plant extract that improves metabolic syndrome by modulating the gut microbiota. Changes in the gut microbiota may affect intestinal bile acids. We suggest that inulin may improve metabolism by inducing bile acid excretion by gut microbes. Methods: Male C57/BL mice were fed either a high-fat diet (60% calories) or a regular diet for 16 weeks, with oral inulin (10% w/w). At the end of the experiment, the gene expression levels (FGF15, CD36, Srebp-1c, FASN, and ACC) in the liver and intestines, as well as the serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and free fatty acids, were collected. The expression of FGF15 was examined using Western blot analysis. The fat distribution in the liver and groin was detected by oil red and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Simultaneously, the levels of serum inflammatory factors (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) were detected to explore the side effects of inulin. Results: Inulin significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and decreased body weight and serum TG and LDL levels, in mice fed normal diet. Furthermore, inulin increased the α-diversity of the gut microbiota and increased the fecal bile acid and TG excretion in inulin-treated mice. In addition, inulin significantly reduced lipid accumulation in liver and inguinal fat, white fat weight, and hepatic steatosis. Western blot analysis showed that inulin reduced the expression of FGF15, a bile acid reabsorption protein. Conclusion: Inulin ameliorates the glucose and lipid metabolic phenotypes of mice fed a normal diet, including decreased intestinal lipid absorption, increased glucose tolerance, increased insulin sensitivity, and decreased body weight. These changes may be caused by an increase in bile acid excretion resulting from changes in the gut microbiota that affect intestinal lipid absorption.

Pretreatment with Bifidobacterium longum BAA2573 ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis by modulating gut microbiota

Objectives

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic lifelong inflammatory disease. Probiotics such as Bifidobacterium longum are considered to be beneficial to the recovery of intestinal inflammation by interaction with gut microbiota. Our goals were to define the effect of the exclusive use of BAA2573 on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, including improvement of symptoms, alleviation of histopathological damage, and modulation of gut microbiota.

Methods

In the present study, we pretreated C57BL/6J mice with Bifidobacterium longum BAA2573, one of the main components in an over-the-counter (OTC) probiotic mixture BIFOTO capsule, before modeling with DSS. 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based non-targeted metabolomic profiling were performed with the collected feces.

Results

We found that pretreatment of Bifidobacterium longum BAA2573 given by gavage significantly improved symptoms and histopathological damage in DSS-induced colitis mice. After the BAA2573 intervention, 57 genera and 39 metabolites were significantly altered. Pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that starch and sucrose metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism may contribute to ameliorating colitis. Moreover, we revealed that the gut microbiome and metabolites were interrelated in the BAA2573 intervention group, while Alistipes was the core genus.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the impact of BAA2573 on the gut microbiota and reveals a possible novel adjuvant therapy for IBD patients.

Connecting the Gut Microbiota and Neurodegenerative Diseases: the Role of Bile Acids

With the acceleration of global population aging, neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) will become the second leading cause of death in the world, which seriously threatens human life and health. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are the most common and typical NDs. The exact mechanisms of the NDs occurrence and development remain unclear, which may be related to immune, oxidative stress, and abnormal aggregation of pathogenic proteins. Studies have suggested that gut microbiota (GM) influences brain function and plays an important role in regulating emotional and cognitive function. Recently, bile acids (BAs) have become the "star molecule" in the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis research. BAs have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities in NDs. However, the role of BAs in the connection between GM and the central nervous system (CNS) is still unclear. In this review, we will review the possible mechanisms of BAs between GM and NDs and explore the function of BAs to provide ideas for the prevention and treatment of NDs in the future.

Hypolipidemic mechanism of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides in high-fat diet-induced obese mice based on metabolomics

Objective

In this study, the structure of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEPs) was characterized, and the mechanism of PEP on obesity and hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet was evaluated by metabonomic analysis.

Methods

The structure of PEPs were characterized by monosaccharide composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. In animal experiments, H&E staining was used to observe the morphological difference of epididymal adipose tissue of mice in each group. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-(QE) HFX -mass spectrometry (MS) was used to analyze the difference of metabolites in serum of mice in each group and the related metabolic pathways.

Results

The PEPs contained nine monosaccharides: 1.05% fucose, 0.30% arabinose, 17.94% galactose, 53.49% glucose, 1.24% xylose, 23.32% mannose, 1.30% ribose, 0.21%galacturonic acid, and 1.17% glucuronic acid. The PEPs began to degrade at 251°C (T0), while the maximum thermal degradation rate temperature (Tm) appeared at 300°C. The results histopathological observation demonstrated that the PEPs had signifificant hypolipidemic activities. After PEPs intervention, the metabolic profile of mice changed significantly. A total of 29 different metabolites were selected as adjunctive therapy to PEPs, for treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia-related complications caused by a high-fat diet. These metabolites include amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, choline, glycerol phospholipids, and other endogenous compounds, which can prevent and treat obesity and hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet by regulating amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and changes in metabolic pathways such as that involved in the citric cycle (TCA cycle).

Conclusions

The presented results indicate that PEPs treatment can alleviate the obesity and hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet and, thus, may be used as a functional food adjuvant, providing a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the prevention and treatment of high-fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Maternal prebiotic supplementation impacts colitis development in offspring mice

Background and aims

Maternal diet plays a key role in preventing or contributing to the development of chronic diseases, such as obesity, allergy, and brain disorders. Supplementation of maternal diet with prebiotics has been shown to reduce the risk of food allergies and affect the intestinal permeability in offspring later in life. However, its role in modulating the development of other intestinal disorders, such as colitis, remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of prebiotic supplementation in pregnant mice on the occurrence of colitis in their offspring.

Materials and methods

Offspring from mothers, who were administered prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides and inulin during gestation or fed a control diet, were subjected to three cycles of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) treatment to induce chronic colitis, and their intestinal function and disease activity were evaluated. Colonic remodelling, gut microbiota composition, and lipidomic and transcriptomic profiles were also assessed.

Results

DSS-treated offspring from prebiotic-fed mothers presented a higher disease score, increased weight loss, and increased faecal humidity than those from standard diet-fed mothers. DSS-treated offspring from prebiotic-fed mothers also showed increased number of colonic mucosal lymphocytes and macrophages than the control group, associated with the increased colonic concentrations of resolvin D5, protectin DX, and 14-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid, and modulation of colonic gene expression. In addition, maternal prebiotic supplementation induced an overabundance of eight bacterial families and a decrease in the butyrate caecal concentration in DSS-treated offspring.

Conclusion

Maternal prebiotic exposure modified the microbiota composition and function, lipid content, and transcriptome of the colon of the offspring. These modifications did not protect against colitis, but rather sensitised the mice to colitis development.

16S rRNA and Metagenomics Combined with UPLC-Q/TOF-MS Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Potential Mechanism of Radix Astragali Against Hyperuricemia in Mice

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the underlying treatment mechanism of Radix Astragali (RA) in hyperuricemia from the perspective of microbiota and metabolomics.

Methods

We used potassium oxyazinate (PO) to induce hyperuricemia mice, and we determined serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), xanthine oxidase (XOD), creatinine (CRE), uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, liver XOD levels and assessed the kidney tissue histopathology. The therapeutic mechanism of RA in hyperuricemic mice was studied by 16S rRNA, metagenomic sequencing and metabolomics.

Results

Our research showed that RA has therapeutic effect in hyperuricemia mice, such as slow the weight loss, repair kidney damage, and downregulate serum UA, XOD, CRE, ALT/AST, BUN, and liver XOD levels. RA restored the disturbance structure of the microbiota in hyperuricemia mice by increasing the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillaceae and Lactobacillus murine) but decreasing the relative abundances of pathogenic bacteria (Prevotellaceae, Rikenellaceae and Bacteroidaceae). Meanwhile, we found that RA directly regulated the metabolic pathway (such as linoleic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism) and indirectly regulated bile acid metabolism by mediating microbiota to ameliorate metabolic disorders. Subsequently, there was a robust correlation between specific microbiota, metabolites and the disease index.

Conclusion

The ability of RA to protect mice against hyperuricemia is strongly linked to the microbiome-metabolite axis, which would provide evidence for RA as a medicine to prevent or treat hyperuricemia.

Inflammatory bowel disease therapeutic strategies by modulation of the microbiota: how and when to introduce pre-, pro-, syn-, or postbiotics?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a heterogeneous group of inflammatory conditions that encompass both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, represent a major public health concern. The etiology of IBD is not yet fully understood and no cure is available, with current treatments only showing long-term effectiveness in a minority of patients. A need to increase our knowledge on IBD pathophysiology is growing, to define preventive measures, to improve disease outcome, and to develop new effective and lasting treatments. IBD pathogenesis is sustained by aberrant immune responses, associated with alterations of the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB), modifications of the enteric nervous system, and changes in microbiota composition. Currently, most of the treatments target the inflammation and the immune system, but holistic approaches targeting lifestyle and diet improvements are emerging. As dysbiosis is involved in IBD pathogenesis, pre-, pro-, syn-, and postbiotics are used/tested to reduce the inflammation or strengthen the IEB. The present review will resume these works, pointing out the stage of life, the duration, and the environmental conditions that should go along with microbiota or microbiota-derived treatments.

Greater Adherence to Cardioprotective Diet Can Reduce Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Background: The cardioprotective diet was reported to be associated with several chronic cardiometabolic diseases through an anti-inflammation effect. However, the association between the cardioprotective diet and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was unclear and deserved to be further explored. Methods: We calculated the cardioprotective diet score based on the consumptions of seven common food groups using the validated food frequency questionnaire data in the UK Biobank. Incident IBD was ascertained from primary care data, inpatient data, and the death registry. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between the cardioprotective diet score and the risk of IBD. Results: During a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, we documented 2717 incident IBD cases, including 851 cases of Crohn’s disease and 1866 cases of ulcerative colitis. Compared to participants with a cardioprotective diet score of 0−1, we observed a decreased risk of IBD among participants with cardioprotective diet scores of 3 (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73−0.99), 4 (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72−0.98), and 5−7 (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.66−0.89) (p-trend < 0.001). Conclusions: A greater adherence to the cardioprotective diet was associated with a lower risk of IBD. Our finding highlighted the importance of focusing on the cardioprotective diet to prevent IBD.